Everyone loves a great love story… yes I have one too.. not great maybe but it is my story.
“we make a very good couple Em..do not worry my parents would be happy to know you.”… looking at Henry I smiled letting him know I was not the least scared or worried. Whirlwind romance or not he was the guy for me.. two weeks of knowing each other,.. he rang the door bell..looking down at the emerald on my ring finger.. yes it will be..
"I, Emily Swan take thee Henry Arthur Doyle to be my husband, and before God and these witnesses I promise to be a faithful and true wife."
(Rings)"With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, 'til death do us part."
“They say good things come knocking only once.. he knocked thrice. It would have been a decision too early for me one would say but when you know the right person has come along, well you just know it.. And you know the best thing about it all.. ten years down the line when someone asks me what if there would have been a fairy tale if I had awaited a little long.. I will just say this Cinderella knew it in one night.. Aurora knew it in one kiss.. Emily knew it in one look..”
I looked down at Henry from our table at the wedding buffet… he was looking at me with a tender smile, his eyes saying it all and I knew I was lucky for life..
That night was magical.. the days after a blessing of the stars.. two weeks henceforth I knew I was pregnant.. a month later he died in an accident..
Six years its been I am all of 22.. a widow.. And Alexis all but turning five. She was my anchor, my friend, my world..
Looking out at the shops I pass my and Alexis favourite antique shop on the streets of Paris.. There it was a shell… so beautiful.. “Mama I want it.”..and as I approached the shopkeeper there was a Man too having just bought it. Seeing Alexis face I decided to try just once. She rarely did ask for anything as such.
“Monsieur, if you will be kind enough my daughter has taken a keen liking in the shell. If it’s fine I shall pay you double the price that you have paid for it. But please can I buy it from you.”
He turned his face and smiled.. Darkest blue eyes I had ever seen.. Looking down realizing I may have acted as a prude I hoped he would not be as arrogant as his good looks promised.
“Madame, I shall give it to you, but only if you promise me tea today afternoon.”
I looked up surprised and angry.. “ I am not available. I ..”
“Si, I know who you are, The Emily swan.. your maiden name suited you..”
“As does my married name of Emily Henry Doyle” I said angrily not thinking for a moment how he knew me.
“Where are my manners? I am Charles Worth, I knew your late husband well. I couldn’t make it to your wedding or thereafter as I was away on an archaeological trip to Egypt. But Henry was a dear friend..”
I smiled thinking he may not be as I had judged until he continued…” and a lucky man to have a love so beautiful and lasting even after death”
“Your impossible” I lamented angrily in English.. About to turn away when Alexis pulled at my dress . Mama please can we have the shell. It will be perfect collection for my garden..”
I looked down at her hopeful eyes as she cluthed on to Bruno the cocker spaniel..
“its just one cup of tea” jean said..
“Oh alright!” knowing I was beaten.
“at the bistro of my hotel, at the time that suits you?”
Grumbling at being made a fool of we fixed the hour..
“so how did u know it was me?” I asked over hot scones..
“Henry and I were college friends.. Almost brothers..we had both seen you performing at the ballet.. it was love at first sight for both of us. Henry made a move first. You accepted.. I accepted Egypt.. “
Startled I looked deep into his eyes and knew it was the truth..
Alexis “it is beautiful what you think mama??” ..
“C’est merveilleux! Keep it carefully!!”
“Gracias mama…”
I smiled.. She did confuse her Spanish and French just like her daddy…
“Charles, they wouldn’t accept us. I am Henry’s widow…”
“Emily Swan Henry Doyle will you at least wait for me to propose!”
Going down on one knee.. “I saw you in white.. You were a vision… a swan that took my breath away. Its been five years of unforgotten love and two best years of my life have been spent with you and alexis who shall be my daughter always .. Emily swan Doyle will you do the honors of marrying me “
I looked at the ring…”rubies for the blood in his heart.. Without which his heart would be empty and dead forever…
“ I m actually doing this.. I said out loud…
“Sometimes love.. You do it for love… sometimes you do it for yourself.. And the luckiest one is the one who does it for himself when he in love” I am most glad that you’re lucky” he added..
I smiled holding him in my arms… “ Joshua lets make a baby…”
“Si mi amor…”
Looking down at the Christmas table, I sat with soon to be ten Alexis.. and her younger brother Max.. Joshua was playing with Isabella, Charles and Annabel’s daughter..
And as I looked on and smiled at Charles I was glad he had understood.. and yes he had made peace.. it had taken a while but as he had said Alexis is his first daughter. Anything for her happiness..
There is an old tale about how some women at times meet her soul mates and when that happens there is nothing that stops her from making maybe the wrong decisions for the world but the right ones for her heart.. Joshua was my soul mate..even though I had found love with Charles and had a marriage fo two years, it was finally Joshua who had been my soul mate.. and that was it.. diamonds… he had given me diamonds saying this would remind me always of my purity.. of our pure love.. just like a swan..
Unfathomable as love is, is my love.. a story for you.. but love n life for me
“Merry Christmas love… here you go.. your gift.. I smiled curiously looking at the scroll in my hand...” “Read it” he smiled that smile that I had come to love more than my own….
She sweeps in her robes, A dream she may be
A lily may shy away, after a look at thee
Her laughter beholds a joy, of a faraway dream
As her legs dance away, to the song of glory
The eyes of a fish, color of snow
Hair of a raven, grace of a swan
She is thy lord’s most beautiful creation..
She is.. you..
Mi amor gracias por usted…
(my love thank you for you...)
